December 2025 Visa Bulletin Advances Green Card Dates for Thousands

The U.S. State Department released its December 2025 Visa Bulletin. This monthly update provides crucial dates for green card applicants. It signals significant forward movement across many categories.According to the bulletin, both family-sponsored and employment-based preferences saw progress. This offers new hope for thousands waiting in line for lawful permanent residency. The changes apply to applications filed both inside and outside the United States.

Key Movements in Family and Employment Categories

The bulletin outlines two sets of dates. Final Action Dates indicate when a green card can finally be issued. Dates for Filing show when applicants can submit their required paperwork.Notable advances were seen for applicants from Mexico and the Philippines. For instance, the F2B category for Mexico moved forward by five months. Employment-based categories, especially for India and China, also saw consistent progress. This forward movement was observed without any retrogressions.

What This Means for Immigrant Applicants

This progression means many applicants’ priority dates are now current. They can proceed with the next steps in their immigration journey. This could involve submitting adjustment of status applications or completing consular processing.The consistent movement suggests a positive trend in visa availability. It helps reduce the extensive backlogs that have plagued the system for years. For many families and skilled workers, this update brings them closer to their goal.

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The latest Visa Bulletin provides tangible relief for countless green card hopefuls. The forward movement across categories marks a positive end to the year. The December 2025 Visa Bulletin underscores ongoing efforts to manage immigration queues effectively.

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What is a Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly report from the U.S. State Department. It shows the availability of immigrant visa numbers. Applicants use it to see if their priority date is current for the next processing step.

What is the difference between FAD and DOF?

Final Action Dates (FAD) mean a visa is immediately available. Dates for Filing (DOF) mean you can submit application forms, but must wait for a visa number to become available before final approval.

Did any categories move backward this month?

No. The December 2025 bulletin showed only forward movement. There were no reported retrogressions in any family or employment-based category, which is positive news.

How does this affect employment-based applicants from India?

Several India employment categories advanced. The EB-1 category moved forward by one month. The EB-2 category saw a 44-day advancement, while EB-3 moved forward by one month.

Why are visa bulletins necessary?

They manage visa allocation within annual legal limits. The system ensures fairness by granting visas based on priority dates, categories, and home country chargeability when demand exceeds supply.